Queen Elizabeth II, the Head of State of the United Kingdom, died on Thursday afternoon. 

Earlier on Thursday, Buckingham Palace stated that she was comfortable and resting, but all her children and some grandchildren had flown to Balmoral to be with her. 

Following Queen Elizabeth II’s death at Balmoral Castle in Aberdeenshire, Aberdeen, Scotland, a well-planned protocol dubbed ”Operation London Bridge” is expected to be set in motion immediately. 

Operation London Bridge is in fact a direct reference to a secret code used to communicate news of Queen Elizabeth II’s death to the most senior palace staff and members of government. The secret code in this case is “London Bridge is Down”. 

Every British monarch is expected to have a secret code dedicated to the event of their passing. 

King George VI, Queen Elizabeth II’s father, died in 1952 and the code word “Hyde Park Corner” was used to prevent switchboard operators from immediately finding out about it. 

Operation Forth Bridge and Operation Tay Bridge were the protocols for Prince Philip in 2021 and Queen Elizabeth, the Queen Mother, in 2002 respectively. 

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NOT SECRET ANYMORE

Operation London Bridge ought to have been kept secret but the code name has slipped to the media and made public afterwards.

TheGuardian published a detailed long read in 2017, which reveals a meticulous action plan for events after Queen Elizabeth II’s passing.

“The plans that exist for the death of the Queen – and there are many versions, held by Buckingham Palace, the government and the BBC – most envisage that she will die after a short illness. Her family and doctors will be there,” Knight wrote.

“When the Queen Mother passed away on the afternoon of Easter Saturday, in 2002, at the Royal Lodge in Windsor, she had time to telephone friends to say goodbye, and to give away some of her horses.”

ANNOUNCEMENTS

The announcements of Queen Elizabeth’s passing in the press came after Whitehall sent the message to over 50 heads of state and heads of government of the Commonwealth.

Charles, the new king, has made a statement minutes after the announcement of his mother’s death.

Liz Truss, the new UK prime minister, has also made an announcement.

More heads of government have sent statements and condolence messages in the wake of Queen Elizabeth II’s departure.

CHARLES IS PROCLAIMED KING

Charles has picked Charles III as his royal name. He becomes king effective and immediately. According to the plan, the Accession Council will meet at St. James’ Palace to proclaim Charles the new sovereign a day or two after his ascension.

The proclamation of the new king will be read at St. James’ Palace and the Royal Exchange in the City of London. This will serve as a formal confirmation of Charles as king.

Members of the British Parliament will then meet with Charles III, while businesses are suspended in a show of respect for the late monarch.

READ ALSO: Full Text: Prince Charles’ First Statement as King

QUEEN ELIZABETH’S COFFIN WILL TRAVEL

Queen Elizabeth’s corpse will return to Buckingham Palace within two days of her demise. The royal family will travel back with her remains from Aberdeen where she died.

Her coffin will be moved to the throne room with an altar, the pall, the royal standard. TheGuardian claims that four Grenadier Guards will keep vigil, watching over her coffin.

A procession will follow, and the coffin will move from Buckingham Palace, through London, to the Palace of Westminster in the procession.

Westminster Hall will then host a service in the Queen’s honour. Elizabeth II will lie in state at Westminster Hall for three days. Her coffin will be open to the public to see for the most part of the day. 

FUNERAL AT WESTMINSTER ABBEY

According to plan, Queen Elizabeth’s funeral will likely take place ten days after her death. Her funeral will take place at Westminster Abbey. During the funeral, the whole nation will observe two minutes of silence at noon. All banks will close and the London Stock Exchange halt its operations.

A committal service in St. George’s Chapel at Windsor Castle will follow. Queen Elizabeth is expected to be buried by her father’s side in King George VI Memorial Chapel.